MOT fail

maseratimike7

Member
Messages
364
First MOT failure in 3 years worth of ownership and it seems the UK roads have taken there toll on the car.

Both front coilspring have snapped and the plastic control arm that adjusts the headlights has also snapped on the rear offside suspension.

Does anyone have a part number for the gransport coilsprings as most places I have spoken to only stock or supply the standard ones for the 4200?

Does anyone also know if the headlight adjustment control arm can be replaced or do I need a complete unit?

Cheers

Mike

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allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
My AC failed on both front springs broken also. Main dealer was surprisingly, and significantly, cheaper than other independents.
 

maseratimike7

Member
Messages
364
Thanks for the responses, I'll call the main dealer now I have the part number to get them ordered.

Has anyone changed the coilsprings themselves that can pre warn me of any surprises when doing it?

Good to know the arm can be changed without the need to replace the unit!

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conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Has anyone changed the coilsprings themselves that can pre warn me of any surprises when doing it?

Yes, a couple of weeks ago on my brothers car.

What you wont be able to do is undo the threaded nut that the spring sits on and is used to adjust it.

It will need to be remove, cleaned with paraffin and use the correct C spanner to undo it whilst compressing the spring.

If its being done at a garage then there is nothing to worry about.

Smacking it with a hammer will not budge it either, all you will do is knacker the alloy adjuster/retainer.
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
If you compress the springs enough you can undo the top mount and remove them that way, don't need to touch the bottom nuts then.
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Ha, do I detect a bit of brotherly strife! ('why don't you do it this way' 'no you cant, have to do it this way') LOL :ohh:
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,123
If there seized from UK weather I would be stripping completely and cleaning before reassembly.
Job Done.
 

maseratimike7

Member
Messages
364
I figured there would be some problems to removing them.

I will hire some extended spring compressors that should give me enough compression to remove the top nut!

Thanks for the advice everyone

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Belty

New Member
Messages
3
I have a Spyder which was registered in January 2003. The part number for the front springs for the 2002 model year are £300 plus each, and have to be bought in pairs. The 2003 part number as mentioned in this thread are only about £60 each, does anyone know the difference between the 2 please?
 

Navcorr

Member
Messages
3,839
I think I recall reading an old thread regarding Spyder scuttle shake - being less noticeable on '03 cars onwards due to improved chassis stiffness. The comment was something like "we all know it's a lie - all they did was soften the suspension".

Could explain having to buy '02 springs in pairs.
 

Andy Marshall

Member
Messages
297
not entirely a lie. The later cars had some sort of structural foam injected into the various box sections of the chassis to make it stiffer (according to the specialist that told me) Dunno about softer springs though. But the spyder is somewhat shorter wheelbase so it would not surprise me if there were differences in chassis set up compared to the coupe